Okay, Earth Hour. Banish me to the salt mines. I forgot. However, like lots of small business owners, I do try to do my bit for the planet on the other 364 days of the year. At least, I do now since I researched the whole Going Green in Business for a chapter in The Small Business Success Guide.
Why bother? Research from Edith Cowan University in Western Australia suggests that the combined carbon footprint of the small business collective is estimated to be as much as 70% of global pollution. And according to GreenBizCheck:
* Leaving a computer screen on for just one night uses up enough energy to microwave six dinners.
* A computer left on 24/7 costs approximately $95 a year to run. If this PC is switched off before going home and at weekends, this can be reduced to $20.
* Increasing the air-conditioner temperature in your office by 1 degree C in summer and reducing the temperature by 1 degree C in winter will save about 10% off your energy bill.
Easy ways to make a difference
Here are a few tips from GreenBizCheck:
* Switch things off. About 10% of the total global electrical appliance energy consumption is wasted on stand-by energy. Turn everything off at the power point.
* Unplug charges. They're using up energy even when they're just plugged in.
* Work from home more. A commute of two hours a day means that in 40 years you'll have spent 2.3 years commuting. Think of those fuel costs!
Every little bit helps.
Margie
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
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